WBatman: Arkham is a series of action-adventure video games based on the DC Comics character Batman, developed by Rocksteady Studios and WB Games Montréal, and published originally by Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The franchise consists of four main installments and an upcoming spin-off, along with four smaller titles for mobile devices, a virtual reality game, and tie-in comic books and an animated film. The continuity established by the games is often referred to as the "Arkhamverse", and is part of the larger DC Multiverse.
WThe Arkham Knight is an identity used by two supervillains appearing in media published by DC Entertainment. The original was created by Rocksteady Studios and DC writer Geoff Johns to serve as the titular villain in the 2015 video game Batman: Arkham Knight. He made his first appearance in the prequel comic book Batman: Arkham Knight #1 and received his own 6-issue miniseries Batman: Arkham Knight GENESIS, with #1 released on August 26, 2015. He is voiced by Troy Baker. Depicted as the mysterious commander of a vast militia of mercenaries, the Arkham Knight harbors a deep-rooted grudge against Batman and fully intends to kill the vigilante after making him suffer. To this end, he allies himself with the Scarecrow and provides a military presence in the evacuated Gotham City during the events of Batman: Arkham Knight. Towards the end of the game's main story, his true identity is revealed to be Jason Todd, adapted from a pre-existing character in the comics who acted as the former and second Robin. In the game's universe, Todd was thought to have been killed years earlier by Batman's nemesis the Joker but was actually spared; he thus harboured intense hatred towards Batman and vowed vengeance.
WBatman: Arkham Asylum is a 2009 action-adventure game developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Eidos Interactive in conjunction with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman and written by veteran Batman writer Paul Dini, Arkham Asylum was inspired by the long-running comic book mythos. In the game's main storyline, Batman battles his archenemy, the Joker, who instigates an elaborate plot to seize control of Arkham Asylum, trap Batman inside with many of his incarcerated foes, and threaten Gotham City with hidden bombs. Most of the game's leading characters are voiced by actors who have appeared in other media based on the DC Animated Universe; Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, and Arleen Sorkin reprised their roles as Batman, the Joker, and his sidekick Harley Quinn respectively.
WBatman: Arkham City is a 2011 action-adventure game developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, it is the sequel to the 2009 video game Batman: Arkham Asylum and the second installment in the Batman: Arkham series. Written by veteran Batman writer Paul Dini with Paul Crocker and Sefton Hill, Arkham City was inspired by the long-running comic book mythos. In the game's main storyline, Batman is incarcerated in Arkham City, a super-prison enclosing the decaying urban slums of fictional Gotham City. He must uncover the secret behind a sinister scheme orchestrated by the facility's warden, Hugo Strange. The game's leading characters are predominantly voiced by actors from the DC Animated Universe, with Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprising their roles as Batman and the Joker, respectively.
WBatman: Arkham City Lockdown is a 2011 fighting video game developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, it is a spin-off to Batman: Arkham City, and the first mobile game in the Batman: Arkham series. Set a few weeks before Arkham City, Arkham City Lockdown follows Batman as he attempts to capture several villains who have escaped from Arkham Asylum and are causing mayhem in the streets of Gotham City. As Batman, players fight enemies using melee combat, and earn points for doing so, which can be used to upgrade Batman's stats or to unlock gadgets and alternate costumes.
WBatman: Arkham Knight is a 2015 action-adventure game developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, it is the successor to the 2013 video game Batman: Arkham Origins, and the fourth main installment in the Batman: Arkham series. Written by Sefton Hill, Ian Ball and Martin Lancaster, Arkham Knight is inspired by the long-running comic book mythos. Set nine months after the events of 2011's Batman: Arkham City, the game's main storyline follows Batman as he confronts Scarecrow, who has launched an attack on Gotham City, causing a citywide evacuation. Scarecrow, with the help of the mysterious Arkham Knight, is also able to unite Batman's greatest foes in an attempt to finally destroy Batman.
WBatman: Arkham Origins is a 2013 action-adventure game developed by WB Games Montréal and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, it is the follow-up to the 2011 video game Batman: Arkham City and is the third main installment in the Batman: Arkham series. Written by Corey May, Ryan Galletta and Dooma Wendschuh, the game's main storyline is set eight years before 2009's Batman: Arkham Asylum and follows a younger, less-refined Batman. When a bounty is placed on him by crime lord Black Mask, drawing eight of the world's greatest assassins to Gotham City on Christmas Eve, Batman must bring Black Mask to justice, while also being hunted by the police and having to face other villains, such as the Joker and Anarky, who take advantage of the chaos to launch their own nefarious schemes.
WBatman: Arkham Origins is a free-to-play fighting video game developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for iOS and Android mobile operating systems. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, it is a spin-off to the 2013 video game Batman: Arkham Origins, and is part of the Batman: Arkham series. It was released for iOS on October 16, 2013 and for Android on July 25, 2014. The game feature touch combat mechanics and offers in-app purchases, or micro transactions. The last game update was on April 21, 2014. The game has surpassed 5 million downloads on the Google Play store.
WBatman: Arkham Origins Blackgate is a 2013 side-scrolling video game developed by Armature Studio and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, it is a companion game and sequel to Batman: Arkham Origins, and part of the Batman: Arkham series. Set three months after Arkham Origins, the game follows Batman as he attempts to stop a prison riot at the Blackgate Penitentiary, which has been taken over by three of Gotham City's most notorious crime bosses: the Joker, the Penguin, and Black Mask. The story also depicts Batman's first encounter with Catwoman, who aids the Dark Knight throughout the game, but is hiding a secret from him.
WBatman: Arkham VR is a virtual reality adventure video game developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, it is a part of the Batman: Arkham series and the first installment to use virtual reality headsets, allowing players to experience the game world from Batman's perspective. Arkham VR was released worldwide on October 11, 2016, for PlayStation 4 and on April 25, 2017, for Microsoft Windows for VR headsets.
WBatman: Assault on Arkham is a 2014 direct-to-video animated superhero film that is the 20th film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. Jay Oliva and Ethan Spaulding direct, with a script by Heath Corson, and James Tucker producing. The film was screened at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con on July 25, 2014, and it was released digitally on July 29 and on physical media on August 12.
WThe Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane is a fictional psychiatric hospital/prison, which appeared first in the novels of Howard Phillips Lovecraft, and later appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in stories featuring the superhero Batman. It first appeared in Batman #258, written by Dennis O'Neil with art by Irv Novick. The asylum serves as a psychiatric hospital for the Gotham City area, housing patients who are criminally insane. Its high-profile patients are often members of Batman's rogues gallery.
WSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is an upcoming action-adventure game developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It is set to be released in 2022 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. It is a continuation of the Batman: Arkham series and will be the first game in the series not to feature Batman as the title character or the player protagonist. This game revolves around the titular team's attempts to defeat Brainiac when he invades Earth and brainwashes the Justice League.